2010

I created all the flyers for the Belen Art League's 2010 events, but only participated in a few of them. We debuted the new wing of the gallery, where I continued to exhibit my photography, jewelry and crochet work. I was also put in charge of hanging the gallery's Photography Room.

Belen Art League Gallery & Gifts Grand Opening

January 23rd & 24th

The grand opening event was a great success. Spanning two days we had many visitors from as far away as Boston, Massachusetts. This event celebrated the gallery expansion, which is planned to house Belen's Camino Real Museum wall. The "West Wing" is the new home of the fiber arts and pottery art exhibits. All visitors were invited to enter the door prize drawing for a certificate to a local restaurant. Sales at this event were outstanding. Thank you everyone who joined in the celebration.

Film & Media Day

February 5thSanta Fe, New Mexico

Film and Media Day is an annual free event that's held in a parking lot southeast of the Roundhouse. It's a chance for the public, and the politicians, to learn more about our local filmmaking industry. There's a large tent with tables set up for IATSE 480, the New Mexico Film Office, the public access TV channels and others involved in the production of movies and television here in New Mexico. Tables are set up in the Roundhouse for this event as well. Demos are given for some of the equipment by industry professionals. Craft Services supplies a burger lunch for everyone. Speeches are given and you might just run into someone you've seen on the big screen. Wes Studi was in attendance for the opening of this year's event and I got to talk with him about Avatar. It was a lot of fun.

Belen ART League Valentine's Tea

February 14thBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

Belen ART League Miniature Show

April 3rd - 17thBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

Belen ART League Spring Show

May 8th - 29thHarvey House MuseumBelen, New Mexico

Belen ART League Yard Sale

June 18th & 19thBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

Belen ART League Photography Show

July 17th - 31stBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

This event is a great fundraiser for the art league. There's a lot of great deals. I picked up a bread machine for a mere $4.

The show looked great, but my time and energies went into designing sets for the Duke City Shootout.

The Treehouse

July 23rd - 31st

The Duke City Shootout, only film festival in the world that shoots the films during the event, celebrated it's tenth year. This year, in addition to short films we also made music videos. I was picked to design the sets for a film called The Treehouse. We had a great crew and terrific locations. The treehouse yard was just magical. I wish I had that yard when I was a kid. The story was a very timely one about the effect the bad economy is having on people.

Unfortunately my car died before shooting began and I was forced to drop out, but my spirit was with the shoot the whole way. For a behind the scenes look at this film go to my Duke City Shootout page.

Belen ART League Fall Show

September 4th - 18thHarvey House MuseumBelen, New Mexico

At last I could enter an event. I put in three photos originally intended for Artist of the Month: "Ghost Tree", "Layers" and "Belen's Heart Mandala". "Ghost Tree" is a shot of an old, dead cottonwood amidst a green woods, in Los Lunas. It won me third place. "Layers" was taken at the Quarai ruins and "Belen's Heart Mandala" is of the ceiling of the Gazebo at the Heart of Belen.

Valencia County Around the Clock Photo Contest

September 25th - October 2ndHarvey House MuseumBelen, New Mexico

Rio Abajo Days

September 25thBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

I served on the committee for the Belen ART League's first photo contest event. The idea was to get the public involved. Cash prizes were given out to the winners. It was my idea to hold the reception on Rio Abajo day so those at the gallery could send people to the Harvey House exhibit and visa versa. I also felt, and still do, that the contest should be non-members only to avoid any hint of favoritism, but I was out voted.

Belen ART League Art Supply Sale

November 19th & 20thVFW meeting hallBelen, New Mexico

Thanks to the estate of the late John Bock, a long-time member of the Belen Art League, we were able to raise funds with a huge art supply sales event. It was so big it had to be held at the nearby VFW meeting hall. I picked up a couple books and some pastels.

Belen Festival of LightsBelen ART League Gallery & Gifts Open House

November 26thBelen ART League Gallery & GiftsBelen, New Mexico

After regular gallery hours the league participates in the Festival of Lights Parade then welcomed chilly festival goers with hot cider at the annual open house event. Tables are put up in the gallery with extra craft items for holiday gift giving. I sold several ornaments this year.

Belen First Footers FestivalBelen ART League Arts & Crafts Show

December 11thHarvey House MuseumBelen, New Mexico

To facilitate foot traffic between the Rail Runner station and downtown Belen a new overpass was built on top of the Reinken bridge. Tickets were sold for a chance to win the privilege of being the first person to walk over the new overpass. After the ribbon cutting ceremony they came to the Harvey House for food, entertainment, the Festival of Trees exhibit and a big arts and crafts sale event put on by the Belen Art League and several other artisans.

My part of the exhibit included one of my trademark jewelry displays, a golden goblet of bookmarks and crochet Christmas ornaments, on the tree.